Morale crisis hits CSIRO as staff, funding cuts bite

Morale at the nation's premier science organisation was at an all-time low, with more than 600 jobs cut in three years and retrenchments set to continue, a Senate committee was told yesterday.

The head of the CSIRO, Geoff Garrett, conceded another 63 positions had been axed in the last seven months, and that number could jump to 150 by the end of the financial year.

While up to 12 scientists in just one division could be made redundant within months and 40 redeployed, two new business development managers would be employed on six-figure salaries, Dr Garrett said.

The Senate's employment, workplace relations and education legislation committee was also told that a leaked internal survey showed only 47 per cent of CSIRO staff had faith in "organisational leadership and direction" and that 48 per cent believed their jobs were not secure.

The survey found 55 per cent felt organisational change had not improved the CSIRO and 51 per cent questioned the ability of senior personnel.");document.write("

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The CSIRO has been subject to a radical shake-up under the Howard Government, with the organisation forced to cut costs and raise funds externally.

Labor's science and research spokesman, Kim Carr, said about one in nine jobs had gone at the same time as the CSIRO was being called upon to work on important security projects.

"There have already been discussions between the CSIRO and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation. This is important work, but it should not come at the expense of other research that is done for the public good."

Quoting from a leaked document, Senator Carr said the CSIRO appeared to have few allies in cabinet. The document, on the views of Coalition MPs about the research organisation, was prepared in late 2000 by the Allen Consulting Group.

"There is something of a trust deficit amongst the politicians. This may have its origins from periods in opposition when they have seen elements of the CSIRO seeking to use the Senate in particular to manipulate issues and outcomes," the document, Canberra Stakeholder Consultations, concluded.

"There is something of a perception that the CSIRO organisation is resistant to change and had done the minimum necessary in order to meet the 30 per cent external earnings target."

It said there was "a hint that if the CSIRO were to present the Government with a clearly defined and proactive strategy which strikes a balance between its public good and market-related activities ... that the Government, as part of a broader deal, would consider removing the external earnings target".

The Government's Senate spokesman on science and education, Richard Alston, denied any antipathy. If there were any criticisms, they emanated from his concern that the organisation move with the times.

"But that doesn't mean I'm hostile to the CSIRO," he said. "I probably would have been if they hadn't changed."